Just got in from my weekend of Whitewater Rafting on the Ocoee. Did it all day friday and saturday, all I can say is I'm hooked, freaking awesome! Anyone else ever been?

Went in North Carolina last year and I agree, I was great and can't wait to do it again.

I've been a few times. I've rafted New River a couple times, and I love going on the Gauley - both in WV.

No, but I have always wanted to go just never made the time.

I've rafted the New River in WV twice. The first time, it was kind of girls' trip. Our guide was awesome. He knew exactly where we would be filmed, so he always had us doing these cool little syncronizations with our paddles. When we viewed the video back at the lodge, we looked like pros. Needless to say, I had a blast.

 

The second time, well...let's just say I've had one near death experience, and it was on my second rafting trip. Once again, we were on the New River. I wasn't thinking much of it since I had already been on it once without any troubles. This time around, we had 10 people plus the guide in our raft. I think the fact that we were very overloaded didn't help matters. Oh, and did I mention that our guide mysteriously disappeared during lunch and then returned reeking of marijuana???? Anyway, it happened to be a very rainy spring, so many of the typically mild Class III's had turned into Class V's +. We ended up tipping at the front end of the longest rapid of the day, a generally mild rapid that was turned into a Class V with all of the recent rainfall. I think they called it the Kini's rapid, or the Bikini's rapid, or something like that. (For those who have rafted the New before, you might know which one I am referring to.) This happened to be the same rapid with undertows leading into what they referred to as the "meatgrinder". Once we tipped, all I could do was fight to get the next breath of air, as the rapids kept pulling me under. Finally, as the rapid started to mellow out, one of my guy friends that was with me was able to pull me into the boat. I still laughingly refer to this guy as the one who saved my life. (He gets a kick out of it.)

 

Unfortunately, though I was safe in the boat, I wasn't able to see my brother or sister who were also on the trip. So, I was safe, but in a complete panic because they were still missing. Fortunately they got picked up by another boat that was following us. I joke around and say that I almost died, but at the time I honestly thought I was drowning. My brother, even to this day, swears that he almost died that day. I remember when he finally got back in our boat he was in complete shock--couldn't talk or anything. It didn't help that as we were finally all getting rescued, the boat was flipped upright, right on top of him, sending him back underwater, gasping for air once again. He kind of got the worst of that deal. We got the whole thing on video, so it's always interesting to watch and reminisce about that day.

 

I was done with rafting for a while after that harrowing experience, but I think I'm about ready to hit the rapids again. No way I will ever go on the Gauley though. I've heard too many horror stories about that one.

Edited June 23, 200818 yr by 20/20Hindsight

It is an absolute blast! I have been in North Carolina and I went last summer on the Pigeon River in TN. It is definitely addicting!!!

I've rafted the New River in WV twice. The first time, it was kind of girls' trip. Our guide was awesome. He knew exactly where we would be filmed, so he always had us doing these cool little syncronizations with our paddles. When we viewed the video back at the lodge, we looked like pros. Needless to say, I had a blast.

 

The second time, well...let's just say I've had one near death experience, and it was on my second rafting trip. Once again, we were on the New River. I wasn't thinking much of it since I had already been on it once without any troubles. This time around, we had 10 people plus the guide in our raft. I think the fact that we were very overloaded didn't help matters. Oh, and did I mention that our guide mysteriously disappeared during lunch and then returned reeking of marijuana???? Anyway, it happened to be a very rainy spring, so many of the typically mild Class III's had turned into Class V's +. We ended up tipping at the front end of the longest rapid of the day, a generally mild rapid that was turned into a Class V with all of the recent rainfall. I think they called it the Kini's rapid, or the Bikini's rapid, or something like that. (For those who have rafted the New before, you might know which one I am referring to.) This happened to be the same rapid with undertows leading into what they referred to as the "meatgrinder". Once we tipped, all I could do was fight to get the next breath of air, as the rapids kept pulling me under. Finally, as the rapid started to mellow out, one of my guy friends that was with me was able to pull me into the boat. I still laughingly refer to this guy as the one who saved my life. (He gets a kick out of it.)

 

Unfortunately, though I was safe in the boat, I wasn't able to see my brother or sister who were also on the trip. So, I was safe, but in a complete panic because they were still missing. Fortunately they got picked up by another boat that was following us. I joke around and say that I almost died, but at the time I honestly thought I was drowning. My brother, even to this day, swears that he almost died that day. I remember when he finally got back in our boat he was in complete shock--couldn't talk or anything. It didn't help that as we were finally all getting rescued, the boat was flipped upright, right on top of him, sending him back underwater, gasping for air once again. He kind of got the worst of that deal. We got the whole thing on video, so it's always interesting to watch and reminisce about that day.

 

I was done with rafting for a while after that harrowing experience, but I think I'm about ready to hit the rapids again. No way I will ever go on the Gauley though. I've heard too many horror stories about that one.

 

Honestly, something funky must have been going on for New River to have been that dangerous. Generally, the New is a "learners" river. I think they even let people as young as 11 go on that one. I've never had any problems on New, and even swam down a couple of the rapids. I never fell out of the boat on New River, but Gauley was another story; went flying through the air on one rapid on the Gauley.

 

But again, I wonder what was going on that made New jump from class 2's and 3's all the way up to class 5's? Wouldn't more water in the river make the rapids less active? I don't know how that stuff works, just wondering.

The New River was pretty lame when I was on it last fall, the best time to raft it is in the early spring when water volume is very high. The guides talk about how crazy it can get, but I've never had much fun on the New.

 

The upper Gauley is awesome, lots of 5's and a 14' vertical drop at the end of the run. They increase the dam flow a few Sunday mornings every fall and basically regulate the water flow and rapids on this river. These are supposedly the best rapids east of the Mississippi and well worth the money if you're up for it...

I've been in WV and Colorado and Colorado was by far the best/craziest. We went to the Royal Gorge in Canyon City and it may have been the most fun I've ever had before, probably the most frightening experience I've ever had as well which makes it all that much more fun to me.

Honestly, something funky must have been going on for New River to have been that dangerous.

 

But again, I wonder what was going on that made New jump from class 2's and 3's all the way up to class 5's? Wouldn't more water in the river make the rapids less active? I don't know how that stuff works, just wondering.

 

I've done the New and Gauley many times; I haven't been anywhere else.

 

I do remember several years ago there was flooding that did alot of damage and affected put-ins, rapids etc. I've also been there during fall Gauley\dam release season when excessive rain caused the Corps of Engineers to close certain parts of the river. But I don't really know how all that stuff works either.

I've never been whitweater rafting. I've done "easy" whitewater canoeing; had a blast.

I've been several times in Oregon, it may be my favorite activity ever.

Far and away my favorite thing to do. Also have been in Oregon, near Bend; many, many times on the Snake in Wyoming; on the Arkansas River in Colorado; once on the Colorado River; several times on the Truckee River in Lake Tahoe, CA; going back to the Snake in 3 weeks.

Just got in from my weekend of Whitewater Rafting on the Ocoee. Did it all day friday and saturday, all I can say is I'm hooked, freaking awesome! Anyone else ever been?

 

I went on the Ocoee last summer and it is the bomb! I loved going up and looking at the 1996 Olympic Kayaking course that was used. Also after they stop the water flow from the pipelines, and looking at the area you had covered and saying how did we do that.

I went on the Ocoee last summer and it is the bomb! I loved going up and looking at the 1996 Olympic Kayaking course that was used. Also after they stop the water flow from the pipelines, and looking at the area you had covered and saying how did we do that.

 

We kept seeing it with no water early in the morning on the way up, its insane thats what is under the water. Which guide service did you use?